How is this country about to treat those who are in it illegally?
The question, of course, springs from the fact that later this month Donald Trump will be sworn into the office of the presidency, after winning an epic electoral victory in large degree by appealing to Americans angry about our current, failed immigration laws and practices.
My guess is that Trump doesn’t really intend to build a wall, or deport 11 million men, women and children. But he must do something, because his populist base will demand it. He will do something significant at the border, and he could certainly and those who have committed crimes while here.
And if he does intend to wall the border and deport everyone here illegally, well, then we will have a very different story to follow, and a very different country to live in.
But we’ve learned that the developer in Trump doesn’t mind bluffing, and so one can hope that he intends to act more reasonably.
Could he surprise us, and cajole Republicans to take up more meaningful immigration reform? Should he do so, his presidency would offer a great gift. Or will he appeal to meaner instincts?
This column is an invitation to our readers to help us understand the challenges and the possible solutions to fixing our unjust and flawed system.
For our Jan. 15 Perspective section, we will present an immigration-focused edition to help inform the debate.
Writing for us will be the Denver-raised Pulitzer Prize winner, Jonathan Freedman, whose editorial writing for the former Tribune in San Diego in the 1980s helped spur our Congress to pass, and President Ronald Reagan to sign into law, the nation’s last significant immigration reform.
Reagan signed the law in Nov. 6, 1986 — 34 years since it last had been updated.
The special edition also will feature writing from Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, a Democratic member of the bipartisan Gang of 8 that convinced the Senate in 2013 to pass a comprehensive immigration bill that has languished for lack of support in the Republican-controlled House.
Also writing for us will be U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, the Republican from Aurora, whose redrawn and far more diverse district has changed the way the former hardliner once thought about the issue.
Republican Troy Eid, a former U.S. Attorney from Colorado who supports securing the border, and who has his own immigration story to tell, will be writing for us, too.
We have more, but I’ll leave it at that for now, in order to make this appeal to readers.
Tell us your stories.
For the Jan. 15 Perspective edition, we wish to feature letters to the editor that focus on the experience of immigration. If you are here illegally, or know families who are, what have been your experiences? If you are angry about our system, for whatever reason, tell us why.
We ask that letters be limited to about 150 words, and that you follow our listed policy for submission. There’s only so much space, and so we will have to be selective.
Letters should be turned in by the close of business Monday, Jan. 9.
We still want to keep our regular letters to the editor coming, so please don’t assume next week is only about this one issue. We endeavor to cover much more ground, and your daily letters are critical to that process.
Since I’ve been following politics in Colorado, I’ve seen state lawmakers pass a law that allows children brought here illegally to receive in-state tuition at colleges and universities.
I’ve also seen a badly flawed bill pass that set up a system to give those who came here illegally the chance to gain a driver’s license. The intentions behind the measure are laudable. The law means to make the roads safer, and that is good for all of us. But the funding for the program makes it a cruel and vicious debasement. A slap in the face to decency.
Wait lists can be years long for appointments to get such a license. The offices set up to process the applications are so limited that any number of weather problems, road issues or just the everyday surprises that complicate our lives can prevent license seekers from making their appointment.
What are your stories? We want to hear them.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit or check out our for how to submit by e-mail or mail.
